Cotton distributer and cleaner



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. B. CARTER COTTON DISTRIBUTER AND CLEANER.

No. 585,430. Patented June 29, 1897.

(No Model.) l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. B. CARTER. ooTToN DISTRIBUTER AND GLBA'NB-R.

Patented Jima 29, 1897.

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UNITED* STATES `PATENT trice.

ALBERT B. CARTER, OFHAZLEHURST, MISSISSIPPI.

COTTON DISTRIBUTER AND CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,43Q, dated June 29, 1897.

Application fled September 10,1896. Serial No. 605,443. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT B. CARTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hazlehurst, in the county of Copiah and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Cotton Distributer and Cleaner, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton-treating machinery whereby the grade of the marketable product is increased, thereby materially enhancing the value and quality of the article without-materially adding to the cost of the treatment over the process generally in vogue.

The invention deals with the cotton prior to the ginning operation and loosens and lightens it and removes all dirt, trash, and foreign matter and supplies the cotton to the gin in such a state that the ginning is facilitated and the product rendered more marketable, cleaner, brighter, and in better condition for spinning than is generally obtained from the gin without subsequent treatment.

To those versed in the art to which this invention appertains objects and advantages other than those referred to herein will suggest themselves as they are made acquainted with the detailed construction of the apparatus, and tothis end and for a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus of particular construction for attaining the ends of this invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudi- Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the complete apparatus on the line 0c of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a plan section on the line y y of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of a portion of a conveyer for moving the cotton through the conductor.

A vital feature of the invention is to secure y a maximum length of travel of the cotton in the smallest space possible, to agitate the cotton during its travel to break and loosen the hulls and detach dirt and foreign matter, to locate guarded openings at intervals in the length of the conductor through which the cotton travels for the liberated dirt to escape through, to provide escapes at the ends of the sections forming the cotton-conductor for the heavier and larger particles of foreign matter separated from the cotton, and to direct currents of air upon the moving cotton, so as to supplement the action of the mechanical devices and insure a thorough cleaning and loosening of the cotton prior to its being fed to the gin-stand to be ginned.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference-characters.

The cotton-cond uctor is composed of a number of sections l, 2, 3, and 4, disposed in vertical relation,the one directly above the other, and connected by strips 5, the whole forming a substantial structure which is adapted to be applied to the stand of one or more cottongins for supplying the latter with cotton thoroughly cleaned and loosened. The length and number of the sections comprising the cotton-conductor will depend upon the capacity of the apparatus and the number of gins to be supplied thereby. The topmost section 1 is closed at its top, bottom, and sides and is surmounted by a box 6, into which the cotton to be treated is fed in any convenient way,.a spout '7 being provided and having connection with the top of the box by means of a thimble 8. A blast-pipe 9 communicates with a side of the section 1 for forcing a current of air therein across the path of the incoming cotton, thereby loosening the latter and the dust and foreign matter adhering thereto. The opening is protected by wire fabric 10, so as to prevent the entrance of any cotton or matter into the pipe 9. An observation-opening is located in the opposite side of the section 1 about in register with the blast-pipe 9 and is protected by a glass plate 1l, thereby admitting of the interior of the conductor being inspected at a point where the cotton is supplied thereto. The blast of air is supplied to the pipe 9 from any suitable source, and, as shown, a fan-blower l2 IOO is provided and attached to the said pipe. The force of the blast is adapted to be moderated by a gate 13, which is pivoted to one .side of an opening 14, formed in a side of the blast-pipe, and which is adapted to be turned so as to uncover the opening 14 more or less, whereby the strength of the current can be varied.

The sections of 'the conductor immediately below the topmost section have perforations in their bottoms and sides, the perforations or openings havingany desired shape and size and being protected by wire fabric or other suitable material, so as to retain the cotton in its passage through the conductor and yet admit of the escape of dust and foreign matter. These guarded or protected openings 15 are located at intervals in the length of the conductor-sections and will be in sufficient number to effect the desired end. Trays or pans 16 are located below the openings 15 in the respective sections and extend beyond the sides thereof a sufficient distance to catch the dirt escaping through the said openings, thereby preventing the dirt falling from an upper section entering the openings of the section immediately below. These pans or trays 16 are removably fitted in place and are slidingly supported upon cleats 17, secured to the vertical strips 5. By this means the trays can be removed and the accumulations therein emptied and again replaced.

The cotton-conductor sections are connected at their ends in pairs by similarly-formed hoods, the hoods 18 and 19 being of similar construction and the hoods 2O and 21 of like formation. The hood 18 connects the adjacent ends of the sections 1 and 2, and its end is imperforate. The hood 19 connects the contiguous ends of the sections 3 and 4 and has an imperforate end with a lower portion removed, forming a discharge-opening 22. The hood 2O establishes communication between the adjacent ends of the sections 1 and 2, and the hood 21 performs the same office for the contiguous ends of the sections 3 and 4. The ends of the hoods 2O and 21 are perforate, being formed by wire fabric, so as to admit of dust and trash escaping through the meshes of the said fabric when passing from one section to the other. The hoods are hinged at their upper ends, so as to be thrown upward when it is required to gain access to the interior of the sections for removing obstructing matter, cleaning, repairing, or for any other purpose. The sides of the hoods are cut away, as shown at 23, forming openings for the escape of trash, detached hulls, and such foreign matter of such size as not to pass readily through the meshes of the fabric protecting the openings 15. Bonnets 24 are applied to the ends of the hoods 2O and 21 and communicate with the blast-pipe 9 by means of pipes 25 and are adapted to direct a blast of air into the said hoods 2O and 21, so as to remove foreign matter from the cotton and loosen and lighten the latter. The

wire fabric forming the perforate ends of the hoods 20 and 21 closes the inner ends of the bonnets 24 and prevents the cotton passing therein in its travel through t-he conductor and from one section thereof to the other. The pipes 25 are supplied with valves 26 for regulating the blast of air passing therethrough to the bonnets, and at a convenient point in their length the pipes 25 are supplied with unions or couplings 27 to admit of the parts being disconnected when it is required to move the hoods 2O and 21 for any of the purposes aforesaid. Communication is established between the sections 2 and 3 at one end by means of a tubular section 28 and through which the cotton passes in its travel through the conductor.

As previously intimated, the cotton-conductor sections are coupled in pairs by means of the hoods, and each pair of sections is supplied with an endless con Veyer for movingthe cotton therethrough and simultaneously agitating it. Each endless conveyer consists of a belt 29, of leather, canvas, or other suitable materiahleather bein g preferred because of its stiffness, wings 30, secured at intervals in the length of the belt, and braces 31 for stiening and strengthening the said wings. The wings 30 are of leather or similar material and nearly fill the space formed between the inclosing walls of the conductor, so as to prevent the lodging of cotton or other mat-ter therein when the apparatus is in operation. The. Lipper leaf or portion of each conveyer operates in the uppermost conductor-section and the lower leaf or portion operates in the lowermost conductor-section of the pair, coupled in the manner set forth.

The endless conveyers are supported at one end upon pulleys 32 and at their opposite ends by pulleys 33, journaled in frames 34, slidingly supported relativev to the framework of the apparatus and comprising longitudin al and transverse connecting-bars. Tension-screws 35, mounted in the transverse barsof the sliding frames 34 and having their inner threaded ends engaging with threaded openin gs in a cross-piece 36 of the framework, are adapted to move the frames 34, so as to secure the requisite tension upon the conveyers and provide for taking up any slack therein. The pulleys 32 are connected by a belt 37, passing around pulleys 38 on the shafts or journals upon which the pulleys 32 are secured. A band-pulley 39 is secured upon a shaft of one of the pulleys 32 and is adapted to have motion imparted thereto from any suitable source of power for driving the endless conveyers. rlhe lowermost conductorsection has discharge-openings 40 for the escape of the cotton into the gin stand or stands prior to the ginning operation.

In assembling the parts of the apparatus the bonnets 24 are disposed so as to direct the blast of air into the upper conductor-section connected therewith, and the air moving in an inverse direction to the cotton agitates IOC ITO

the latter in a more effective manner and thoroughly loosens it and adhering matter clinging thereto. If found of advantage, a blast of air may be delivered to the conductor at any point in its length, so as to effect a thorough separation and cleaning of the cotton passing therethrough. The cotton to be treated is supplied to the apparatus in any convenient Way by means of the spout 7 and box 6, and immediately upon its entrance into the conductor it is subjected to a blast of air from the pipe 9 and is moved forward through the top section 1 by means of the uppermost conveyer, and when the end of the section 1 is reached the cotton entering the hood 2O is again subjected to a blast of air from the bonnet 24 and the dust and small particles are caused to escape through the perforate end of the hood 20. The cotton is moved positively through the conductor-section 2 by means of the lower portion of the conveyer, which operates in the sections 1 and 2, Which are coupled together, and some of the foreign matter, such as dust and small particles, escapes through the guarded open ings 15 in the bottom and sides of the section 2. When the rear end of the conductor-section 2 is reached, the cotton passes through the tubular section 28 into the section 3 and is moved through the latter and the section t by the endless conveyer operating therein and is delivered through the openings 40 to the gin-stand to which the apparatus is applied. The cotton in its passage through the coupled sections 3 and el. is cleaned by the action of the blast of air therethrough and by means ofthe protected openings l5, through which the foreign matter escapes. lVhen the cotton is passing from the section 3 into the section Il through the hood 21, it is subjected to the full action of the blast of air from the bonnet 24 applied to the hood 2l, thereby removing the last traces of dust, trash, and any foreign matter remaining therein.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In apparatus for cleaning cotton,the combination of a conductor composed of an intercommunicating vertical series of independent sections having openings in the length of their bottom for the escape of impurities, and means for positively moving the cotton through each section of the conductor and alternately in opposite directions, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for cleaning cotton,the combination of a conductor composed of an intercommunicati n g vertical series of independent sections having openings in their sides and bottom protected by meshed fabric, means for supplying a blast of air to the sections for removing the impurities from the cotton and forcing them through the aforesaid protected openings, and conveyers for positively mov ing the cotton through each section of the series, substantially in the manner set forth.

3. In apparatus for the purpose set forth,

a conductor composed of a vertical series of sections in communication, hoods connecting corresponding sections in pairs and .having their side portions cut away to provide escape-openings, and movably held in place,

vand endless conveyers for the sections coupled in pairs, substantially as set forth.

4. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, a conductor composed of a vertical series of communicating sections, hoods connecting corresponding sections ,at one end and having imperforate ends, other hoods connecting the opposite terminals of the said sections and having perforate ends, and endless conveyers for the pairs of coupled sections, for the purpose described.

5. In apparatus for treating cotton, a conductor composed of a vertical series of communicating sections, the topmost section hav'- ing its inclosing Walls imperforate and the remaining sections having escape-openings at intervals in their length protected by meshed fabric, means for supplying the cotton to the topmost section, and a blast-pipe communicating with the topmost section at the point of entrance of the cotton, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth, a conductor composed of a vertical series of communicating sections having escape-openings at intervals in their length protected by meshed fabric, means formoving the material to be treated through the said sections, and trays placed beneath the respective sections opposite the escape-openings to receive the dirt and foreign matter separated from. the material undergoing treatment, substantially as set forth.

7. In cleaning apparatus for the purpose described, a conductor composed of a vertical series of communicating sections having openings at intervals in their length protected by meshed fabric, means for positively moving the material to be treated through the sections, and trays removably supported beneath the openings of the respective sections to receive the dirt separated from the material during the cleaning operation, substantially as described.

8. In cleaning apparatus of the type speci fied, a conductor composed of vertically-re lated sections, pulleys located at the ends of 4and opposite the space formed between contiguous sides of adjacent sections, an endless conveyer supported by the pulleys and having its parts operating in the said adjacent sections, hoods connecting the ends j of the aforesaid sections and inclosing the pulleys and theV end portions of the endless conveyer and a blast-pipe having connection with a hood of each pair of sections, substantially as set forth. r j

9. The herein -described cotton-cleaning apparatus, comprising a conductor composed of a vertical series of sections in communication, the topmost section having its inclosing Walls imperforate and the other sections havx oo IIO

ing escape-openings in their bottom and sides protected by rneshed fabric, trays removably supported beneath the respective sections and opposite the escape-openings therein, hoods connecting the terminals of adjacent sections, one set of hoods having iinperforate ends and the other set having perforate ends, bonnets applied to the perforate ends of the hoods, a blast-pipe communicating With the topinost section and with the said bonnets, a box placed upon the topinost section and coinmul nicating therewith at a point opposite the juncture of the blast-pipe therewith, and endless conveyers operating in the sections, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I clailn the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

y ALBERT B. CARTER.

Vitnesses:

S. G. SALTER, J. M. NORMAN. 

